TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Sometimes, redundancy needs a new face behind the message to be completely effective.

Since the start of the season, Sarah Patterson has told her No. 3 Alabama gymnastics team that it shouldn't feel burdened by the lofty expectations it faces as it enters next week's NCAA Championships with a chance to win its third in a row. In recent weeks, as the Crimson Tide piled up big score after big score, Patterson's words appeared to be sinking in, but she wanted one last jolt of a reminder before the biggest meet of the season.

Enter Nick Saban, who spoke to Patterson's team Thursday.

"When it comes from a different person, that message gets through better," Patterson told AL.com after Thursday's practice.
"When that person is Nick Saban, who they have a tremendous amount of
respect for and never get the opportunity to see one on one in terms of a
small environment, I think that it's important.

This is the third consecutive year Saban has delivered Patterson's squad a pep talk before the NCAA Championships. She's hoping the pattern of how her team has responded continues when it begins competition next Friday at New Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

If Alabama wins, it won't just be the Crimson Tide's third in a row. It will be the seventh overall for the program, which has been led by Patterson and her husband, David, for 35 years.

"It shows to the ladies, and this is what he says to them, how much
he admires what the program has done year in and year out competing at
the highest level," Patterson said. "I think it doesn't matter the sport is, if you're
competing at the highest level for championships year in and year out,
coach Saban has a great deal of respect for you."

The message he delivered Thursday, Patterson said, was similar to what he said throughout his own season as Alabama pursued its second consecutive BCS National Championship.

"He has a great perspective on the expectations of other people about going
for a three-peat," Patterson said. "He goes, 'You're not going for any peat. You're going
and doing what you need to do.'

"Each team is different and you have to create your own chemistry. You
can't place that additional burden on yourself because it never works."

Alabama enters the three-day, 12-team meet as the No. 3 seed. To advance out of the April 19 semifinals and into the Super Six on April 20, the Crimson Tide must place third or better out of a group that includes No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 6 UCLA, No. 7 Michigan, No. 10 Utah and No. 11 Arkansas.

The Crimson Tide departs for Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon. Until Saban walked into the room before Thursday's practice, Alabama's gymnasts didn't know whether it would receive his words of encouragement.